Nuclear mattersU.K. assessing two nuclear reactors designs

The United Kingdom wants to build more nuclear reactors, and the government is assessing two different reactor types — the U.K.-EPR designed by Areva and EDF, and the AP1000 designed by Westinghouse — for their suitability to meet U.K. regulatory standards

Frazer-Nash and Praxis have been awarded a contract to provide advice to HSE in its independent review of certain safety aspects of designs for the U.K.’s new generation of nuclear reactors.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE), working with the Environment Agency, is currently assessing two different reactor types — the U.K.-EPR designed by Areva and EDF, and the AP1000 designed by Westinghouse — for their suitability to meet U.K. regulatory standards, as part of its Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process.

The HSE has commissioned prime contractor Frazer-Nash and technical lead Praxis to provide technical support to produce independent advice on certain areas within the HSE’s assessment. According to a joint statement, the review will focus on control and instrumentation aspects of the reactor designs, including the reactor protection systems.

The findings of the work will support the HSE’s overall assessment of the designs, and help them determine the extent to which they can meet the U.K.’s Safety Assessment Principles. This will ultimately feed into the regulator’s decision-making process helping HSE to produce its report on the extent to which the reactor designs meet the U.K. licensing requirements. The work will be coordinated by Frazer-Nash’s Warrington team.